Evidence Is Power: Why I Teach Evidence-Based Birth
- Tiffany Gorman
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read

My name is Tiffany Gorman, and I am an Evidence Based Birth Instructor. For me, that title means something very specific.
It means I commit to following the most up-to-date research on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum health. It means I train every year with Evidence Based Birth, an organization dedicated to reviewing the latest evidence and translating it into practical, understandable information for families. And it means that sometimes the information I teach is different from what is considered routine practice in many hospitals today.
Being evidence-based isn’t about being anti-hospital or anti-provider. It’s about making sure you have access to high-quality information so you can make informed decisions that are best for your body, your baby, and your values.
What Evidence-Based Education Really Gives You
When you take an Evidence Based Birth class or workshop, you don’t just learn facts. You gain tools, language, and confidence. You learn how to create a birth plan with your provider, not against them.You learn how to ask thoughtful questions ahead of time so everyone is on the same page before labor begins.You learn how to prepare for Plan A, Plan B, and even Plan C — because birth can be beautifully unpredictable. Understanding your options during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum doesn’t mean you control every outcome. It means you’re prepared to pivot with knowledge instead of fear.
And education truly does put fear at bay.
The Questions You Didn’t Know You Could Ask
One example I often share is about eating during labor. For decades, many hospitals have restricted solid food during labor due to concerns about aspiration — concerns based on research from the 1940s. Current evidence shows that nourishment during labor can be beneficial for many people, and the blanket restriction is not strongly supported by modern research.
On the Evidence Based Birth website, there’s an in-depth 20-page review explaining why this policy became routine and what the evidence actually says today.
This is just one example of the kinds of questions you can ask:
What does the evidence say about eating and drinking in labor?
How often do you see breech births, and what is your approach?
What is your experience with twins or multiples?
What are your hospital’s induction and cesarean rates?
When you know what to ask, the entire dynamic shifts.
Confidence in the Room
Doctors, nurses, and medical staff have years of training — and that deserves respect. But you can learn enough to confidently participate in decisions about your care.
You can ask for clarification.You can request more information.You can take a moment to think.
You can choose what aligns with your body, mind, and spirit.
The word empowered is used often in the birth world, sometimes so much that it loses meaning. But in this context, it truly fits. Knowledge changes how you show up to your birth. It replaces intimidation with collaboration. It replaces uncertainty with preparation.
Evidence-based information is not about controlling birth. It’s about entering it informed.
And informed is powerful.
To learn more about Evidence-Based Birth classes or to schedule a workshop, visit www.tiffwellness.com and take the next step toward a confident, informed birth experience.
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